Northwich

Salt shaped this Cheshire town, and you can still feel its industrial heritage in every brick. Northwich grew wealthy on white gold - the underground deposits that gave it purpose for centuries before tourism ever crossed anyone's mind. These days it's a proper market town that works for a living, with enough character to make an overnight stop worthwhile.

Delamere Forest wraps around the area like a green blanket. It's cracking walking country, with proper trails through Barry's Wood and the rather whimsically named Lewis Carroll Centenary Wood. The Round Pool makes for a lovely picnic spot when the weather's being kind.

Blakemere Village deserves a morning. The craft centre might sound twee, but it's actually quite good - local makers showing their stuff without the usual tourist shop nonsense. Cheshire Aquatics pulls in families, though it's more educational than spectacular.

Weaver Valley Cruises run narrow boat trips along the waterways that once carried all that salt to market. Bit touristy perhaps, but the guides know their local history and the countryside looks different from water level. The Creamfields Festival brings thousands here each summer, transforming quiet fields into something altogether more raucous.

Getting here's straightforward enough. Woodside Station and Cuddington both serve the area, while Acton Bridge connects you to the main Chester line. The M6 runs close by if you're driving down from the north.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. Delamere Forest is practically on your doorstep, while Chester's only a half-hour dash when you fancy something more substantial than village life. Wild Shore Delamere and the various touring parks scattered around give you options, whether you want lakeside pitches or forest views. The town centre's walkable from most sites, and you've got proper countryside in every direction.